Belhaven Twisted Thistle
Big, punchy tropical fruit and citrus aromas: lots of pineapple, peach and grapefruit. Piney resin and moderate sweetness balance a big bitterness on the palate. Reimagined at 4% as a session IPA, brewed with a special blend of hops and barley malt, in 30-litre kegs in the UK. A 5.6% version is brewed for export, on keg only.
Tasting Notes
AI-generated sensory profile for Belhaven Twisted Thistle
Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.
The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.
Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.
About Session IPA
Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives
What is a Session IPA?
IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.
Finding a similar Session IPA
hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same tropical, piney, citrusy character as Belhaven Twisted Thistle will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.






